{
 "id": "ambrose-bierce/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-theft",
 "title": "The Valley of the Shadow of Theft",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Ambrose Bierce",
 "poet_slug": "ambrose-bierce",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Black Beetles in Amber",
 "book_slug": "black-beetles-in-amber",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 103,
 "container": "Black Beetles in Amber",
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1892,
  "venue": "Black Beetles in Amber (1892)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/blackbeetlesinam00bier"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/ambrose-bierce_poetry",
  "file": "black-beetles-in-amber.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4793",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12658",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12977",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15599",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof04bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof05bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof08bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/shapesofclay00bier",
   "https://archive.org/details/blackbeetlesinam00bier",
   "https://archive.org/details/literarycalifor05mighgoog",
   "https://archive.org/details/cali07webb"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 24,
  "n_stanzas": 6,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 45,
  "max_indent": 1
 },
 "site_ready": true,
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "In fair Yosemite, that den of thieves",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Wherein the minions of the moon divide",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The travelers’ purses, lo! the Devil grieves,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His larger share as leader still denied.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "El Capitan, foreseeing that his reign",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "May be disputed too, beclouds his head.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The joyous Bridal Veil is torn in twain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the crêpe steamer dangles there instead.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The Vernal Fall abates her pleasant speed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And hesitates to take the final plunge,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "For rumors reach her that another greed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Awaits her in the Valley of the Sponge.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The Brothers envy the accord of mind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And peace of purpose (by the good deplored",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As honor among Commissioners) which bind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That confraternity of crime, the Board.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The Half-Dome bows its riven face to weep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But not, as formerly, because bereft:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Prophetic dreams afflict him when asleep",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of losing his remaining half by theft.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Ambitious knaves! has not the upper sod",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Enough of room for every crime that crawls",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But you must loot the Palaces of God",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And daub your filthy names upon the walls?",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ]
 ]
}